Microbiological flora of mobile phones of resident doctors

Abstract

Background: Many studies revealed that devices like stethoscope, mobile phones can act as an important source of microbes capable of causing nosocomial infections. Hence there is need of defining their role in spreading infection, so that we can take some preventive measures against it. Aims: To screen the mobile phones of resident doctors and perform microbeological study of the organisms isolated. Setting: Resident doctors working at Tertiary Care Hospital. Methods: Swabs of 50 mobile phones of resident doctors were taken by sterile cotton swab and inoculated on Blood agar, MacConkey agar, Sabaraud’s dextrose agar. Isolated organisms were processed according to standard protocol. Results: Swabs of mobile phones of 50 resident doctors were analyzed for presence of micro-organisms. Out of the 50 samples, 30 (60%) were contaminated with micro-organisms. 32 micro-organisms were isolated from 50 mobile phones as shown in table 3. Among 32 isolates, Coagulase negative Staphylococci 23 (71.87%) was the dominant organism followed by Diphtheroids 7 (21.87%), Aspergillus niger 2 (6.25%). Also proportion of contamination of mobile phones of male resident doctors was more than female resident doctors. Conclusion: Mobile phones may act as a potential source of micro-organisms and spread nosocomial infections. Hence proper infection control practices like proper hand washing, decontamination of mobiles should be routinely practiced.